Extravascular circulation of oxygenated synthetic nutrients to treat tissue hypoxic and ischemic disorders

Abstract

A novel system and method for treating ischemic neurologic tissue is disclosed wherein an oxygenated nutrient emulsion is circulated through at least a portion of the cerebospinal pathway. The nutrient emulsion contains an oxygenatable non-aqueous component, an aqueous nutrient component, an emulsification component, and other components which render physiologic acceptability of the nutrient emulsion. Methods for producing the nutrient emulsion and a system for delivering that emulsion to the cerebrospinal pathway are also disclosed. Additionally, novel diagnostic methods for diagnosing the physiologic state of hypoxic-ischemic and other diseased neurologic tissue during treatment are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for treating hypoxic-ischemic neurologic tissue, comprising: (a) a reservoir containing synthetic oxygenatable nutrient liquid for treating hypoxic-ischemic neurologic tissue;   (b) oxygenator means for oxygenating said liquid, to produce an oxygenated liquid;   (c) cerebrospinal injection means for injecting said oxygenated liquid into an extra-vascular cerebrospinal body pathway; and   (d) cerebrospinal withdrawal means for withdrawing fluid from said extra-vascular cerebrospinal pathway to create, in combination with said injection means, a circulation of said oxygenated liquid within said cerebrospinal pathway.   
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said injection means further comprises a cerebral catheter means for insertion into at least a brain ventricle for injection of liquid therein. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said withdrawal means comprises means for withdrawing liquid from the cisterna magna. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 1 further comprising monitoring means for monitoring the flow rate of said oxygenated liquid being injected. 
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises output analysis means for monitoring the characteristics of said (withdrawn) fluid. 
     
     
       6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said characteristics are physical characteristics. 
     
     
       7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said physical characteristics include at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of: osmolarity;   vapor pressure;   temperature;   viscosity;   flow rate; or   pressure.